The latest show at the Jessie Edwards Gallery is Tim Tait’s ‘Different View’ which opens on August 21 and runs through Sept 2. Tait is relatively new to Block Island and his fresh eyes on this place we love can sometimes feel like a stroll through memory lane. These 16 acrylic on linen pieces draw us back to a place or time that made an impression on us in the best possible way, perhaps a less complicated time. It is not so much about accurate representation of a place or structure for Tait but more a reminder of how we remember that place and structure and what it meant to us at a time where we were impressed by something about it. These works push boundaries, especially in color, while at the same time give us only snippets of place or structure allowing the viewer to fill in the gaps from their own memories. All of these works bring forward a sense of joy and an easier and, perhaps, less complicated time.
There is a simplified ease in ‘Mohegan Bluffs’ that feels like a gentle reminder to notice and be present to the shapes and places around us without getting bogged down in the details. All the elements are there, in this painting, and the layers of color lend both a transparency and depth to the land which we feel standing in this spot, but don’t necessarily see.
The house in ‘Arrow’ is a familiar and iconic structure on Block Island but often more noticed because of its Gothic front entrance which we don’t see in this painting. The classic style of this architecture shines through, though. The bright neon sign pointing the way back to where we started perfectly fits in with the angles on the roof and porch, inviting us to continue on our journey while portraying a simpler time with less clutter to mar our senses.
Most of us come to Block Island via the ocean and the buoys that guide safe passage are a familiar sight. In ‘Point Judith Channel Marker’, we are warmed by the color and composition of the buoy and water and feel a sense of peace as the boat heads out of the scene because while the boat will continue on its journey, the channel marker remains fixed and visible in the endless sea which surrounds Block Island.
There is much going on in any summer day on Block Island along the front streets. The roads and sidewalks can be busy with people and every kind of vehicle. ‘The Surf’ is a transition piece, moving from the busy of the street to the calm of the beach and ocean beyond. The figures in this painting are all doing their own things yet the disparate stories they each tell seem to be a perfect balance in this tableau. There is movement and stillness through the contrast of the colors and light as the interior acts as a portal from one place to another.
Stonewalls help to define the landscape on Block Island and in ‘Trees’, they lend a hand in delineating this view that looks to the west. The contrast of light and shadow balances this piece and each part of the landscape is perfectly positioned to draw the viewer’s eye into this magical space.
This show is a must-see and can be found upstairs in the iconic Post Office Building in Old Harbor at Jessie Edwards Gallery or online at www.Jessie.Edwards.Gallery.com. The gallery is open every day (but closed on Tuesdays) from 10am – 5pm (4pm on Sunday) and at other times by appointment.